Although this item appeared in the Peoria, IL, Journal Star on 4 Nov 2002, I feel that it contains information that may be important to all Illinois researchers who have looked in vain for a particular ancestral marriage. The item appeared in Bill Adams column, for which he combs old newspapers to scout out interesting, unusual and unique stories. This one carried a date of November 4, 1939. "Nearly half the couples to whom marriage licenses were issued at Burlington, Iowa, during October were from Peoria and vicinity, it was reported. There were 78 licenses issued, and 35 of the number went to persons living near Peoria. During the same month, only 69 were issued in Peoria County. Desire to avoid the eight-day waiting period and the pure marriage law is given as the reason for marriages of many Illinois couples in Iowa." NOTE: As the marriage laws were statewide, I am sure that these circumstances existed in many counties. If a couple lived not to far from the state line other states might also have hosted many Illinois marriages. So, depending upon the place of residence, one might look in border counties in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin as well as Iowa. Hope that this will help many researchers knock down a few brick walls. Jane Kuck